Can dancing help fight dementia?

Dawn Renton

Silversurfers.com, the over 50s online community, has conducted a survey of over 1,660 respondents, to investigate the main health concerns of the over 50s.

The finding revealed that the main concerns were:

Losing brain capacity – 34%

Aching joints – 23%

Losing brain capacity – 34%

Poorer vision/eyes – 6%

Unhealthy heart – 9%

Reduced hearing – 2%

Emerging cancers – 11%

Weaker bones - 3%

Rising cholesterol – 3%

Developing diabetes - 3%

Lower energy levels – 7%

Martin Lock, CEO at Silversurfers.com, said: “Our survey results reveal that people are less worried about poor vision and hearing and that their main worries relate to Alzheimers, dementia and rheumatism (joint pain). We urge the Government to take on board these results and begin an education campaign to help people minimize their risk of suffering from these ailments.”

The study always showed activities that offer protection against dementia:

Reading – 35% reduced risk of dementia

Cycling and swimming – 0%

Doing crossword puzzles at least four days a week – 47%

Playing golf – 0%

Dancing frequently – 76%

Martin concludes: “With a growing elderly population, and a shrinking welfare budget, we need to be informed and take action. Let’s all get dancing and make sure we stay healthy.” “Could ballroom dancing be the answer? The Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City has found that dancing could stimulate the mind and ‘make us smarter’.”